Frederick j



(No Model.)

F. J. HOYT.

SPRING TRACK CROSSING.

Patented Oct. 18, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK J. HOYT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SARAH M. HOYT, OF SAME PLACE.

SPRING TRACK-CROSSING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.371,587, dated October 18, 1887.

Application filed February 28, 1887. Serial No. 229,212. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. How, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Track-Crossings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

- My invention relates to railroad-crossings; and it consists of asubstitute for the ordinary frog or crossing employed at sidings or wherever cars on one line of rails are switched off onto another line.

My improvement may be termed a springcrossing, and the objects of the device are to provide for a continuous unbroken main rail and to do away with frogs, guard-rails, and gaps in the main rail. It is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan; Fig. 2, a sectional View taken on the line 00 a: of Fig. 1, partly in elevation; Fig. 3, a detail.

In the drawings, a a are the main rails of a track, and b b rails of a branch or side track.

D is a short piece of rail cutout, say, from one of the main rails a. A zigzag out is made across the rail from the outside to the inside of the rail, so that the inside line of the part D is somewhat longer than the outsidesay three inches long on the inside of the rail and two and a half on the outside-forming when the two parts are placed together an interlocking joint. The oscillation of the train being outwardly,this shape is to prevent any forcing out of the part D by a rapidlymoving train on the main track from the position it occupies, as now to be described.

The small railsection D is bolted or otherwise securely attached to a plate, F. The plate F is also provided with beveled blocks G on opposite sides of the section D, the top edge of said blocks being on a level with the top of the section D and the incline running therefrom, with an open space between each block and the section. The plate F is secured to an elliptic spring, H, which in turn is secured to a plate, I, bolted to a cross-tie,

K. This tie is set into the ground at what ever angle itis desired to run the siding, and at a proper depth to maintain the attached parts in the relative positions herein shown and described.

\Vhen placed in position, the rail will make the main rail continuous and a perfect joint at the intersection of the main rail and the side rail, and on opposite sides of the main rail will be placed the beveled blocks G, so as to abut against the inner sides of the branch rail, leaving a space between the main rail and each of the blocks, in which the flange of the car-wheel is to run when going in either direction.

In operation, as a car is run forward, say on the side track in either direction, the flange of the wheel strikes the beveled block G, the Weight of the car presses down the spring, and consequently the block G, sufficiently to permit the passage of the side carwheel through the main rail, and as soon as the wheel or wheels have passed the spring throws the short section and the beveled blocks up to their original position. In passing over the main line the main line wheel does not touch the beveled blocks, and owing to the shortness of the section D, its shapc,and the fact that it is placed directly over the dead-center of the stiff strong elliptic spring, the passing of the main-line wheels over the same does not depress it.

The part D maybe varied in form; but I prefer that it shall be interlocking. It is evident that any other form of spring which will afford the necessary support, stiffness, and strength may be substituted for the elliptic spring shown, and the spring may be locked, if desired, by suitable device as against de pression from passage of trains on the main track.

WVhat I claim is- 1. In combination with the main and branch or switch rails, a separate short-rail section of rail forming part of and intersecting with the main rail, and a spring to which said section is directly secured and which forms the main support of the section, substantially as described.

2. In Combination with main and side rails, In testimony whereof I afifix any signature in a spring-crossing consisting of a section of presence of twowitnesses. rail supported by a spring, said section forn1- ting substantially a continuation of the main FREDERICK HOYT' 5 rail, and inclined blocks secured to said cross- Vitnesses:

ing and against the side rails, substantially as SARAH M. HOYT,

described. EDITH F. HOYT. 

